In penitence 

Léon Bazile Perrault made this painting, In Penitence, with oil paints applied to canvas. Look at the texture Perrault has been able to achieve, and how the material influences the appearance of the painting. Notice the soft, delicate brushstrokes that give the child's skin a smooth, almost porcelain-like quality, and the rougher strokes that define the broom, the wall, and the floor. These are everyday items and materials. It’s interesting to consider the social context in which this painting was made. Perrault was working at a time when there was a growing interest in the lives of ordinary people, and there were also very strict social expectations of children, particularly girls. The labor of childcare, and the expectation of female domestic labor is at play here. By understanding the materials, the making, and the context of this artwork, we can appreciate how Perrault challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.